6 November 2017, Bangkok, Thailand. Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary, the Hon. Sarah Lou Y. Arriola, was unanimously elected today as Chairperson of the three-day Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for the Global Compact on Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration (GCM), Bangkok, 6-8 November 2017. The RPM is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Undersecretary Arriola is Co-Leader of the Philippine Delegation to that meeting.

PRESS RELEASEPhilippine Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva

Labor and Employment Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia delivering the general statement of the Philippines at the Regional Preparatory Meeting on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

6 November 2017, Bangkok, Thailand. Philippine Labor and Employment Undersecretary, the Hon. Bernard P. Olalia, called for the affirmation of human rights of migrants in the general statement of the Philippines on the first day of the three-day Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for the Global Compact on Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration (GCM), Bangkok, 6-8 November 2017. The RPM is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Undersecretary Olaia is Co-Leader of the Philippine Delegation to that meeting.

Dr. Toman Barsbai as he presents the results of the Evaluation on the Enhanced Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars for Permanent Emigrants from the Philippines to the US

On an average day about 350 Filipinos migrate permanently to other countries sponsored by family members or as spouse or partner of a foreign national. In 2015, 92,998 Filipinos registered with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) as emigrants to countries like the United States of America, Canada, Japan, Australia, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Korea and Germany.

While their reason for migrating abroad was mainly to reunite with family members, which means having a permanent support network upon arrival, Filipino immigrants still experience considerable difficulties in seamlessly integrating in the destination countries due to important knowledge gaps. After all, they have to learn to navigate a completely different system. For many decades, the Philippine Government’s approach to address this challenge has been to provide pre-departure assistance to Filipino migrants. In the case of Filipinos granted with permanent resident visa abroad, registration with the CFO is mandatory before leaving the country. Pre-departure registration entails attending a country-specific orientation seminar that discusses travel-related matters, settlement concerns and available support networks abroad.